HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Alabama is seen as a solid win for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, so what's an Alabama Republican to do?

Get on a bus, ride to the Southern states President Barack Obama won in 2008 - Florida, North Carolina and Virginia - and put in a good word for Romney there, Alabama GOP Chairman Bill Armistead said Saturday.

Armistead was in Huntsville touting the party's plans for the "Alabama Battleground Patriots."

Armistead said the state party is working with the Romney campaign to coordinate volunteer efforts in those key states. The party is accepting donations to cover expenses for the trips - which are supposed to begin in October.

"If he loses those states, he probably won't win the presidency," Armistead said. "I believe we can play a part in getting Governor Romney elected president."

Armistead said the party's website already has 100 people signed up, and organizers are also considering some long weekend trips for students and others who have less time to devote to a political road trip.

In 2004, the Bush campaign encouraged Alabama residents to work in Florida in the final week of the campaign. The effort was less coordinated in 2008, Armistead said.

Not to be outdone, Alabama Democrats are plotting a similar course and have been for several months, said Clete Wetli, chair of the Madison County Democratic Party.

Wetli said party volunteers have made thousands of calls from Madison County into battleground states for Obama.

Bradley Davidson, executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party, said several carloads of volunteers left from Montgomery to Florida Friday to work on Obama's behalf.

He said most of the coordinated travel so far has been to Florida.

Armistead expressed concern about a second term for Obama, stressing the weak economy, opposition to the Affordable Care Act and continued deficits. The GOP chair said he was also worried about an "October surprise" conjured up by the Obama campaign to help win votes.

Armistead also stressed the value that Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan brings to the Romney ticket as the vice presidential nominee.

Ryan is loved by very conservative voters, Armistead said, brings a deep understanding of the fiscal work done by Congress, and will attract younger voters.

Armistead said Ryan's budget plan has been distorted by the Obama campaign, and he's worried that effort will continue.

For his part, Wetli said Democrats have been expecting for months that Romney would pick Ryan, and they've been ready to challenge his record.

"People who have Medicare don't want it destroyed" Wetli said. "You look around state of Alabama - you can't cut your way into growth. Putting Medicare on a voucher system, that's code for you're on you're own. We think what they're trying to do is cater to the tea party extremist that says 'cut everything.'

"We don't believe in that, we believe in growing the economy through the middle class out."

Armistead said Friday's decision by state Democrats to oust Harry Lyon, the party's nominee for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, reflects a state party that is "no different" than the national party. Armistead said while he didn't approve of Lyon's comments, it appeared to him that Lyon's criticism of Obama and his position on allowing gays to marry was what caused him to run afoul of the party's state leaders.

Davidson said Lyon's comments reflected a candidate who did not display the necessary temperament for a judicial candidate and the state party has not taken a position on the marriage issue.